Newell heading to leadership program

Posted
Wednesday, July 3, 2013 12:38 pm

Staff report

State Sen. Linda Newell, D-Littleton, is one of 48 state policymakers from across the country, and the only one from Colorado, selected as a Council of State Governments Henry Toll Fellow for the Class of 2013.

“Individually, these leaders have a proven track record of accomplishing great things,” David Adkins, CSG’s executive director and CEO, said in a press release. “Collectively, they represent the future leadership of the states.”

The Toll Fellowship Program is a leadership-development program that brings winners to Lexington, Ky., for an intensive six-day, five-night “intellectual boot camp.”

Newell said she hopes the program will help her find new ways to bridge differences.

“Since taking office in 2009, I have focused strongly on bipartisan bridge-building through conflict-resolution and consensus-building programs I’ve started in Colorado,” she said in the release. “I deeply believe our country needs that, and the Toll Fellowship program experience could potentially help me expand those efforts regionally or nationally. I think experiencing the blue, red and purple viewpoints from across the country could also help me with the delicate balance of leading with a purple perspective within my Democratic caucus.”

While each year’s program is unique, previous programs have included sessions on leadership personality assessment, media training, crisis management, appreciative inquiry, adaptive leadership and more.

Continuing education is critical for everyone, Newell said.

“We should all be lifelong learners in any profession,” she said. “The more professional development tools you have in your toolbox, the better service you can provide for your constituents.”

This year’s program is Aug. 16-21.

Newell said the high caliber of participants in Toll Fellows is a great opportunity for everyone involved.